Car chase leads to arrest of fugitive linked to JeffCo break-ins

JEFFERSON COUNTY — Just after midnight today deputies attempted to stop a car that was suspected of being stolen.

The driver refused to stop and a pursuit began in the area of 12th Avenue and 31st Street North. The car was confirmed to be stolen out of the city of Hueytown. The chase traveled through north Birmingham and into the Kingston and Woodlawn areas. As the chase moved through the Kingston area three subjects jumped out and fled on foot, but the driver continued to flee in the vehicle, said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Randy Christian.

Birmingham police joined the pursuit as it passed through their jurisdiction and into the city of Irondale. Irondale police also assisted in the chase. The suspect vehicle entered Interstate 20 West heading back in to Birmingham. Deputies surrounded the vehicle and slowed it to a stop on the overpass above Oporto-Madrid Boulevard, Christian said. The driver rammed two sheriff’s office vehicles in an attempt to escape, but was unsuccessful.

A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office police cruiserfile photo

The driver and passenger were taken into custody. Several stolen guns and GPS devices were found in their possession as well as an amount of marijuana, Christian said.

The driver of the car was identified as 19-year-old Justin Hall, of Birmingham. He was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree assault, first-degree receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, resisting arrest, attempting to elude and second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bonds totaling $96,500.

The passenger of the car was identified as 20-year-old Dewayne Deon Thomas, also of Birmingham. He was charged with first-degree receiving stolen property, second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bonds totaling $39,000. He also has 31 outstanding felony warrants with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. He will be turned over to Shelby County when bond is posted.

Thomas has been the subject of an investigation into several car break-ins and vehicle thefts in the Birmingham/Jefferson County metro area. He is believed to have led law enforcement on a chase last month during which shots were fired at a Deputy U.S. Marshal, before he eluded capture.